BoxRec

Who would win this fight?

I personally think Foreman would wipe the floor with him, I actually think he'd demolish him, Foreman wouldn't give him any ground and would keep bullrushing him, giving him no time to fight back, he can't hit as hard as Foreman can and his chin isn't nearly as strong.

Lewis is no Ali, he's not even Frazier, and there's no way, in my opinion, that he can get out of this alive. Foreman is just better.

Lewis was obviously a better boxer, than Foreman. He had more sound skillset, he was far better from the technical side. Furthermore, Lennox had size advantage. Foreman had power and excellent pressuring abilities. However, he didn't look so invincible against slick boxers. Peralta gave him tough fights. Jimmy Young outclassed him. And Lewis was much bigger and more skilled, than those two. Lennox also was able to counteract well, when he was pressured. So it's a terrible match-up for Foreman. George would have had a puncher's chance only. Lewis would have outboxed him.

Think George would have caught and destroyed Lennox within 3. Lennox too safety first, and while he may do good at first, George will eventually get to him, and there is nothing that Lennox can do about it.

The best of Lewis for me was the disciplined guy that completely neutralised David Tua. If that version of Lewis shows up, he beats any version of Foreman.

DrDuke wrote: ↑29 Jun 2018, 09:25 Lewis was obviously a better boxer, than Foreman. He had more sound skillset, he was far better from the technical side. Furthermore, Lennox had size advantage. Foreman had power and excellent pressuring abilities. However, he didn't look so invincible against slick boxers. Peralta gave him tough fights. Jimmy Young outclassed him. And Lewis was much bigger and more skilled, than those two. Lennox also was able to counteract well, when he was pressured. So it's a terrible match-up for Foreman. George would have had a puncher's chance only. Lewis would have outboxed him.

He might be able to outbox, but George undeniably hits much, much harder, has one of, if not the best chin in all of boxing history, and never gives ground whatsoever.

He will not back up, and he will keep rushing him, and when he does catch him, Lennox is undeniably screwed.

Jmangho wrote: ↑30 Jun 2018, 05:12

DrDuke wrote: ↑29 Jun 2018, 09:25 Lewis was obviously a better boxer, than Foreman. He had more sound skillset, he was far better from the technical side. Furthermore, Lennox had size advantage. Foreman had power and excellent pressuring abilities. However, he didn't look so invincible against slick boxers. Peralta gave him tough fights. Jimmy Young outclassed him. And Lewis was much bigger and more skilled, than those two. Lennox also was able to counteract well, when he was pressured. So it's a terrible match-up for Foreman. George would have had a puncher's chance only. Lewis would have outboxed him.

He might be able to outbox, but George undeniably hits much, much harder, has one of, if not the best chin in all of boxing history, and never gives ground whatsoever.

He will not back up, and he will keep rushing him, and when he does catch him, Lennox is undeniably screwed.

I would pick Lennox Lewis as well, the size advantage is one thing, but he also tops George Foreman when it comes to speed and variaty. I don't think George hits much, much harder either. Lennox right hand came from nowhere with killing power and speed, brutally KO´d several opponents. George guard was sloppy at times wide open for an overhand right.

Rahman and McCall accomplished this and George is above their paygrade.. Perhaps the second fight in the series between them would be competitive...but not the first one.

both could ko each other. would have to favour lewis' skills as the fight goes further. ... its conceivable that a primed foreman would walk right through him. through practically anyone. would have to favour lewis on balance by about 70/30.

Against Ruddock and Tua Lewis only had to be on guard for the lobbing left hook. Versus Foreman the KO shot could just about come from anywhere. Fights with Ossie Ocasio or Gregorio Peralta etc are hardly examples of either man boxing with Big Fight adrenaline, just thinking of them on their serious assignments. Some of the bombs Foreman slung at Ali came within a whisker of landing clean. I just can't see Lewis taking one when it connects. I see Foreman catching him at some point and Lewis coming apart quickly, dramatically. Wouldn't surprise me if it happened quickly.

I recall Foreman saying Lewis was the best heavyweight of all time (ie, RING MAGAZINE, early 2000s) and when Foreman was considering a comeback at age 54 he said he wanted no part of Lewis though he was interested in facing Vitali Klitschko.

Agree with Tuan_Jim that the fights with Ocasio and Peralta are not very relevant. Not sure why the Peralta fights are brought up so often with Foreman. They were well before he reached his prime.

This is a very hard fight to predict.
You can pick certain fights of each where you point out as evidence that they would lose.
.i.e. Lewis got knocked out out by Rahman and stopped by McCall.
Other fights he abandoned his jab completely and got hit a lot and would have been whacked out by Foreman (the Briggs fight and the Mercer fight)
Sometimes he would just pawed with his jab and that wouldn't get it done against a prime Foreman.

Foreman on the other hand looked bad for most of the Young fight and barely survived against Lyle.

Foreman had more power and a better chin (though Lewis' chin was not as bad as some make it out to be)
Lewis was better defensively.
I think there is at least a 50% chance that Foreman stops him; probably within 5 rounds.
Lewis wins a decision something 40% of the time
Lewis probably wins by stoppage 10% of the time.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑17 Aug 2018, 10:42 Foreman had more power and a better chin (though Lewis' chin was not as bad as some make it out to be)
Lewis was better defensively.
I think there is at least a 50% chance that Foreman stops him; probably within 5 rounds.
Lewis wins a decision something 40% of the time
Lewis probably wins by stoppage 10% of the time.

Your numbers concerning Lewis' hypothetical fights are awkward. Not so long ago it was "Lewis loses 10 out of 10 fights against Ali", which though was pretty expected opinion due to Ali's fame and cult status. But now you pick far less skillful Foreman to win a decision against Lewis with the probability of 60%. And those 10% of Lewis stopping him. Lewis was a boxer-puncher, he had a tremendous punch and Foreman's chin was hard, but still not unbreakable.

What worries me here with Lewis is how flappable he was. When Bruno and Mercer outjabbed him he seemed to immediately run out of ideas. When Mavrovic didn't collapse under his punches and instead took the fight to him he quickly tired and the night became an ordeal. And this was long after the days of Don King telling you you're fighting Roy Williams in 10 days--get training! Lewis knew well in advance who he was fighting, had studied them, enjoyed full camps, all the modern training, had Manny in his corner, and still he was so bad... I just see Foreman's power, aggression and Sonny-like jab throwing Lewis out of his groove, and then the power shots finishing him. I know Lewis can hit with the right but even Bruno was able to block that, and Foreman being so effective with that parrying flail of his can probably avoid the worst of it. When the smoke clears, Big George is standing.

DrDuke wrote: ↑17 Aug 2018, 11:31

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑17 Aug 2018, 10:42 Foreman had more power and a better chin (though Lewis' chin was not as bad as some make it out to be)
Lewis was better defensively.
I think there is at least a 50% chance that Foreman stops him; probably within 5 rounds.
Lewis wins a decision something 40% of the time
Lewis probably wins by stoppage 10% of the time.

Your numbers concerning Lewis' hypothetical fights are awkward. Not so long ago it was "Lewis loses 10 out of 10 fights against Ali", which though was pretty expected opinion due to Ali's fame and cult status. But now you pick far less skillful Foreman to win a decision against Lewis with the probability of 60%. And those 10% of Lewis stopping him. Lewis was a boxer-puncher, he had a tremendous punch and Foreman's chin was hard, but still not unbreakable.

No, the numbers make sense. (Obviously I am making rough estimates.)
First re-read what I said earlier. I didn't pick Foreman to win by a decision. I picked him to stop Lewis about 50% of the time.
I have Foreman-Lewis about even overall as to who would win.

I would pick a prime Ali to beat Foreman ever time to. A past his best did it in real life. My picking Ali to be at Lewis was mainly because as good as Lewis was, a prime Ali was a lot better.

Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑17 Aug 2018, 15:05 What worries me here with Lewis is how flappable he was. When Bruno and Mercer outjabbed him he seemed to immediately run out of ideas. When Mavrovic didn't collapse under his punches and instead took the fight to him he quickly tired and the night became an ordeal. And this was long after the days of Don King telling you you're fighting Roy Williams in 10 days--get training! Lewis knew well in advance who he was fighting, had studied them, enjoyed full camps, all the modern training, had Manny in his corner, and still he was so bad... I just see Foreman's power, aggression and Sonny-like jab throwing Lewis out of his groove, and then the power shots finishing him. I know Lewis can hit with the right but even Bruno was able to block that, and Foreman being so effective with that parrying flail of his can probably avoid the worst of it. When the smoke clears, Big George is standing.

The Bruno and Mercer fights are more examples of Lewis' jab being overrated. Glad you brought up the Mavrovic fight. I feel sometimes that I am the only person who ever saw it. Why is it that nobody ever talks about it?

On the other hand, Lewis chin was not great but it is underrated. He might survive a good shot or two against Foreman. However, against Foreman, is has to be great if he is going to take as many shots he took in some of his fights. He has to disciplined in this fight to win it.